He was coach of the Ipswich team than won the FA Youth Cup in the 1970s and followed Cyril Lea after the 1978 FA Cup final win at Wembley, as 1st team coach, leading them to winning the UEFA Cup in 1981.

He took over as manager of Ipswich Town in the summer of 1982 following the departure of his fellow Geordie, Bobby Robson who left Ipswich to become manager of England. He kept his job after relegation from the First Division in 1986 but was replaced by John Duncan the following year, after Ipswich failed to win promotion.

He was appointed 1st team coach at Sunderland when his former Ipswich player Terry Butcher became manager, he later acted as a scout for them in SE England.